In brief
In a devastating surge of violence, Russia initiated an aerial assault involving over 700 drones and missiles overnight, causing significant casualties in Ukraine, including 18 deaths and numerous injuries. The attack occurred shortly after a tenuous ceasefire over Orthodox Easter, with local officials reporting the worst assault in recent months. Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned the attack as a proof of the necessity to maintain sanctions against Russia.
Russia launched more than 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine in multiple waves overnight, killing at least 18 people in what local officials said was the deadliest attack in months. Officials said nine people had been killed in the southern port city of Odesa, five in the central city of Dnipro, and four - including a child - in the capital, Kyiv. In Russia, two people - including a child - were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the southern Krasnodar region, Moscow said. This attack follows a brief ceasefire over Orthodox Easter last weekend, which both sides accused each other of violating.Warning sirens jolted Kyiv residents awake at 02:30 local time, followed by the first explosions. Eyewitnesses reported bright orange fires and large plumes of black smoke, with footage showing a drone crashing into an apartment building. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko noted that a 12-year-old boy was among the deceased and reported 45 injuries overall. Rescuers successfully pulled a mother and child from the ruins of a collapsed residential building.In Dnipro, four individuals were reported dead, with the city's mayor indicating that more bodies may be found as rescue efforts continue. Additionally, regional officials reported injuries from drone strikes in Kharkiv, while cities like Mykolaiv and Kherson experienced power outages due to the assaults. Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down a significant portion of the missiles, though many areas were still hit directly.President Zelensky condemned the attack and emphasized the necessity of maintaining Western sanctions against Russia, arguing that the offensive proves Russia's commitment to war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labeled the attack a war crime and called for increased international pressure on Moscow. As the conflict drags into its fifth year, negotiations for peace have stalled amidst ongoing military operations.
